Humane Society of Louisiana director says exotic animals given out as prizes in Kenner

According to a Kenner city ordinance, it is currently illegal to give out animals, such as ducks and rabbits, as prizes.

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Updated: 4:10 PM CDT Apr 18, 2017

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WEBVTT >> THE BEST IDEA IS TO REPLACETHEM WITH TOYS AND STUFFEDANIMALS.YOU DON'T NEED LIVE ANIMALS TODRAW A CROWD.AUBRY: DOZENS OF IGUANAS STUFFEDINSIDE OF A CAGE TO BE GIVEN OUTAS PRIZES.>> HERE WE HAVE A LARGE UPRIGHTCONTAINER WIRE CAGE WITH 50IGUANAS AND THE CARNIVAL WORKERTOLD ME THEY HAD 100 AT ONCE.THAT PARTICULAR CAGE SHOULD NOTHOLD MORE THAN TWO OR THREE.AUBRY: AFTER GETTING WORD THATTHIS WAS GOING ON JEFF DORSONWITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY SAYS HEWENT TO THE ESPLANADE MALL ONSUNDAY TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.>> HOW IS THIS LAWFUL?WHY IS THIS BEING ALLOWED?DON'T PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT ALLANIMALS EVERY SHAPE SIZE ANDCOLOR HAVE FEELINGS AND CANEXPERIENCE THE SAME LEVEL OFPAIN THAT YOU AND I CAN.AUBRY: THE CARNIVAL WAS PUT ONBY MITCHELL BROTHERS AMUSEMENTSOUT OF SLIDELL.WE SPOKE WITH THEIR OWNER, GUSMITCHELL BY PHONE.>> I MEAN PET STORES SELL THEMSO I'M SORRY WHAT'S THE, I DON'TKNOW.IF YOU ARE NOT AWARE THAT YOUARE NOT AWARE THAT YOU ARE DOINGSOMETHING WRONG.AUBRY: BUT AFTER MULTIPLECOMPLAINTS MITCHELL SAYS THEYWILL MONITOR THEIR VENDORS MORECLOSELY.>> AFTER OBVIOUSLY BRINGING THISTO OUR ATTENTION IT IS SOMETHINGWE SHOULD DEFINITELY LOOK INTOAND SEE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TOOFFEND ANYONE.WE SURE DO NOT WANT TO UPSETANYONE.AUBRY: AND DORSON HOPES CARNIVALVENDORS AND CUSTOMERS WILL THINKTWICE BEFORE BRINGING HOME ALIVE ANIMAL AS A PRIZE.>> USUALLY WHEN THERE IS PROFITINVOLVED AT THE EXPENSE OF ANANIMAL THE ANIMAL WILL LOSE EACH

Humane Society of Louisiana director says exotic animals given out as prizes in Kenner

According to a Kenner city ordinance, it is currently illegal to give out animals, such as ducks and rabbits, as prizes.

Turtles, iguanas, rabbits and goldfish were given out as prizes last weekend in Kenner.

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That is what the Humane Society of Louisiana said happened at a carnival at the Esplanade Mall. According to a Kenner city ordinance, it is currently illegal to give out animals, such as ducks and rabbits, as prizes.

Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn said he is working on a new ordinance to protect all animals.

Pictures and video sent to WDSU showed dozens of iguanas stuffed inside of a cage to be given out as prizes.

“The best idea is to replace them with toys and stuffed animals,” Humane Society director Jeff Dorson said. “You don’t need live animals to draw a crowd."

After getting word that this was going on, Dorson went to the Esplanade Mall.

“How is this lawful,” Dorson said. “Why is this being allowed? Don’t people understand that all animals every shape, size and color have feelings and can experience the same level of pain that you and I can?”

The carnival was put on by Mitchell Brothers Amusements out of Slidell. WDSU spoke with the owner, Gus Mitchell, by phone.

“I mean pet stores sell them,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said they will monitor their vendors more closely.

“After obviously bringing this to our attention it is something we should definitely look into,” Mitchell said. “We don’t want to offend anyone, we sure do not want to upset anyone.”

Dorson hopes carnival vendors and customers will think twice before bringing home a live animal as a prize.

“Usually when there is profit involved at the expense of an animal, the animal will lose each and every time,” Dorson said.

Esplanade Mall officials said they still plan to work with the company, but have banned them from using all live animals as prizes.